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Explore ExperiencesBombay…or as we know it now, Mumbai, is as much a city of contrasts as it is a city of dreams. A city housing those who were born and bred here, and those who’ve made it their home now, and can never imagine themselves anywhere else.
A mix of cultures and communities gives it a cuisine and taste of its own. A city where white-collared professionals rub shoulders with dabbawalas on the local trains. Swanky and shiny cars jostle with auto-rickshaws on the roads, and heritage buildings cling on for space and relevance amid the vast expanding sea of modern skyscrapers.
And, while there is no dearth of places that strongly reinforce the many ironies quintessential to the city, there’s one in particular that elicits a kind of rustic, spiritual calm. We’re talking about the Bangagna Tank, a little piece of history and culture ensconced by a string of high-rise luxury apartments, in Mumbai’s exclusive Malabar Hill area. The oldest living areas of the city often known as the mini-Benaras of Mumbai, this freshwater tank, along with the neighbouring Walkeshwar Temple, was built in AD 1127 by Lakshman Prabhu, a Goud Saraswat Brahmin minister in the court of the Silhara dynasty of Thane.
The Legend of the Banganga Tank
Centuries later, Banganga and its vicinity, with its unique sights, sounds and aromas still harken back to a simpler, quieter time and remains a great spot to escape the city’s usual cacophony. As you make your way down the many narrow alleys, branching out from the main road leading to the Banganga Tank, you are surrounded by a motley crew of temples and old houses bathed in vibrant hues of red, yellow, orange, pink, and blues. Old wizened women perched comfortably, almost permanently outside their houses, to kids running around playfully, might have been residents here at some time.
Throughout Its History
The Banganga Tank and its Environs
A quaint sweet workshop makes its presence known by its fragrance where, traditional sweets are prepared with utmost patience, and skill by the masters of the art, while the owner sweetly pitches his wares, by nudging us to taste them. The dhobi ghat, filled with rows and rows of clothes drying, spoke of an era gone by, where huge Victorian-style bathtubs lined the area and, men continued their daily chores of washing and drying in the windy afternoon.
A smattering of snack shops dots the premises, as people continue their normal lives, in a world that seems almost surreal, and alien to those of us who’ve grown up in much more synthetic, and modern environments. An interesting afternoon, that left me yearning for more stories of Bombay’s rich culture, and the secrets it hides bravely in its folds, open only to those who are willing to caress and love this amazing place for what it was, how it has evolved, while still maintaining the backbone as it keeps embracing, and welcoming all those whose hearts find their way here. As for me, I have a Bombaywala Dil Mumbai meri jaan.
Getting there: The closest railway station to Banganga is Charni Road, (about 3-5 km away) from where you can easily find a taxi or a bus.
Best time to visit: The calming beauty of Banganga, is best enjoyed during the early hours of morning, or evening when the sun isn’t too harsh, and a gentle breeze keeps the surroundings cool.
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